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Nix 1 Wanderers 0 | Highlights

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Video highlights of our Hyundai A-League match against Wellington Phoenix.

The Western Sydney Wanderers travelled to Wellington on Sunday looking to break a nine match winless streak in the Hyundai A-League with the high-flying Phoenix standing in their way.
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When luck isnā€™t going your way you have to fight harder for the rewards and it was certainly the case today as a plucky Red & Black flew home empty-handed after a performance which deserved far better than a 1-0 loss.
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Starting slowly, the Wanderers were not looking like changing their fortunes early in the match and prospects didnā€™t look much better after the Nix took a lead in the 15th minute.
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In an incident that set social media alight the home team was awarded a penalty after Roy Krishna tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground in the box leaving the alleged culprit, Daniel Alessi, and his teammates in a state of bemusement.
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Regardless, Ante Covic saved the initial spot-kick but was powerless to stop the follow-through as Krishna slotted the rebound into the net.
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Just when it seemed that the Phoenix were going to stamp their authority, the Red & Black took the ascendency and had the better of the rest of the match.
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Nikita Rukavytsya firstly, followed twice by Tomi Juric tested the Wellington defence with a save, miss and block rescuing an under-the-pump Phoenix going into half time.
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The second half played out just how the first ended, with Wanderers creating chance after chance.
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But despite a barrage of shots on goals a mixture of near misses, keeper saves and desperate blocks kept the ball out of the net.
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Following another blocked effort by Juric after a brilliant Rukavytsya run, the Red & Black must have been left wondering what exactly they had to do to score as a goal looked certain.
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Things did not get any less frustrating for Wanderers fans as Juric again, Mark Bridge, Labinot Haliti and even Antony Golec all had chances to equalise.
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The entire match was summed up by one of the final plays of the match as a strong Jaushua Sotirio shot was saved before the shot on the rebound looked odds-on to score before a lunging yellow shirt once again got in the way.
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While positives emerged from the match and the penalty decision was obviously a big factor in losing the match, the reality is that the Wanderers have not won all season and that needs to change.
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Their next opportunity comes on New Yearā€™s Day when they host Central Coast Mariners at 7:30pm. Click here for a chance to claim free parking at Wanderland for the match.